Actor Yoo Jae Myung Discusses His Role in 'The Land of Happiness' on SBS PowerFM's 'Park Ha Sun's Cine Town'

On August 21 KST, actor Yoo Jae Myung appeared on SBS PowerFM's 'Park Ha Sun's Cine Town' to talk about his role in the movie 'The Land of Happiness.'

During the show, DJ Park Ha Sun asked, "What is the story of The Land of Happiness?" Yoo Jae Myung briefly introduced the film, saying, "The movie is about a man named Park Tae Joo who becomes involved in the assassination of the president on October 26, 1979, under orders from his superior. It also covers the infamous trial that ensued in South Korea's history."

Park Ha Sun then inquired about the title, asking, "How did the movie come to be titled The Land of Happiness?" Yoo Jae Myung explained, "The director wanted to incorporate the fundamental value of 'happiness,' and the word 'land' has multiple meanings. It can symbolize 'my country,' 'my homeland,' or 'my nation,' which gives the title a symbolic significance."

Park Ha Sun also mentioned that she heard Yoo Jae Myung initially declined the role and asked why. Yoo Jae Myung responded, "I have a habit of reconsidering after turning down a project. I tend to think that I might have refused something out of prejudice. As I reconsidered, I began to see things I hadn't noticed before, and I felt the project becoming more tangible, almost like I could hear it calling to me. That's when I decided to give it another shot. The character of Jeon Sang Do was difficult to grasp at first, but after reading the script two or three times, it started to become clearer, and I found the courage to take on the role."

Regarding his visual transformation in the movie, Park Ha Sun remarked, "You pulled off the M-shaped hairline so naturally that it was surprising. I heard you even shaved and plucked your hair to achieve that look. Was it difficult to maintain for four to five months?" Yoo Jae Myung clarified, "I should correct that a bit. I didn’t pluck my hair right after shaving. I only slightly plucked it to define the hairline. Since the character was based on a real person, I chose an image that could be instantly recognized."

'The Land of Happiness' is also known as the final work of the late actor Lee Sun Gyun

The Land of Happiness is also recognized as the final work of the late actor Lee Sun Gyun. Reflecting on the experience, Yoo Jae Myung shared that he had a very close relationship with Lee Sun Kyun and Jo Jung Suk, almost like brothers. He fondly recalled, "Our filming site was truly a 'land of happiness.' We were constantly laughing and chatting, sharing personal stories and even discussing our family matters. The director is a serious and well-mannered person, but when we were making all that noise, he would quietly glance over at us, as if he wanted to join in," Yoo Jae Myung said with a smile.

Park Ha Sun's Cine Town airs every day from 11 AM to 12 PM on SBS PowerFM and can also be streamed via the PC and smartphone application 'SBS Gorilla.'

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